Vol. 523 No. 1
815 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if, in the context of the forthcoming budget, he will extend and improve the facilities available under the dental and optical benefit schemes; if any such proposals are likely to emerge in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20744/00]
The treatment benefit scheme operated by my Department provides a range of benefits in the areas of dental, optical and aural treatment for qualified PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses.
As is the case with all schemes operated by my Department the benefits available and the qualifying conditions for the treatment benefit scheme are kept under constant review. This ensures that the schemes are continuing to effectively meet their original objectives in terms of operational efficiency and customer needs.
While I have no specific proposals for changing the qualifying conditions or entitlements under the dental, optical or other components of the treatment benefit scheme the operation of the scheme will be subject to ongoing monitoring by my Department.
816 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will introduce any improvements in respect of disability allowance payments in the context of the forthcoming estimates and budget with particular reference to the need to ensure that, under the already established principle in respect of social welfare payments on reaching a prescribed age and having an option of qualification under two or more headings, the applicant has to right to opt for the higher payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/00]
In formulating proposals for the forthcoming budget, I will aim to build further on the improvements for people with disabilities which have been introduced since this Government took up office. For instance – all social welfare payments, including the disability allowance, have been substantially increased in real terms; significant improvements in the assessment of capital for disability allowance purposes are being introduced from next week, which will see a fivefold increase from £2,000 to £10,000 in the amount of capital which is disregarded for means test purposes; a range of measures have been introduced to improve access to disability allowance for many people in full-time residential care; various measures have been introduced to facilitate people on disability allowance in accessing employment, training and educational opportunities, including the extension of the back to work and back to education allowance schemes to people on disability allowance and a substantial increase up to £75 a week in the amount of earnings from rehabilitative employment which can be disregarded for means test purposes.
817 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will undertake any improvements in the back to work allowance scheme, with particular reference to an increase of the incentives to those likely to qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20746/00]
The back to work allowance was introduced in September 1993 as part of my Department's programme of initiatives designed to assist the long-term unemployed to return to the active labour force.
Since then, almost 72,000 people, who were previously long-term unemployed or lone parents, have availed of the scheme to take up new jobs as either employees or self-employed persons. Of that number, approximately 16,000 people have completed the full cycle of support provided under the scheme. An independent evaluation of the scheme has just been completed and it will be published within the next few months. The conclusions and recommendations in this evaluation will form the basis for future changes in the scheme.
